A new Harvard Business Review article argues that AI is not killing consulting. It is forcing the industry to redesign itself. For decades, firms relied on a pyramid model, with large teams of junior consultants handling research, modeling, and analysis beneath a small layer of senior leaders. Generative AI now performs much of that foundational work faster, at lower cost, and at greater scale. That shift is undermining the economics of the traditional consulting structure.
“As AI reshapes consulting into leaner, expert-driven models, the winners won't be the fastest, they'll be the most structured. SpendBrain gives companies a system to build a permanent spend advantage, with clarity and control over every dollar.”
Shannon Copeland,
Chief Executive Officer
The article points to a new model instead: smaller, more senior teams working alongside AI to deliver results with greater speed and precision. SIB is cited as a real-world example of that shift already underway. Rather than relying on large analyst teams, SIB uses AI agents to scan invoices and vendor contracts for savings opportunities, then brings in human experts where judgment, negotiation, and category expertise matter most. The result is a more focused model that delivers repeatable value with less overhead.
The broader message is clear. Firms that simply layer AI onto the old pyramid will become slower and more expensive over time. Firms that rethink the model from first principles will be better positioned to create value. SIB is already operating that model today.
